He misses her. So much so that he almost told her he loved her, but he decided this could wait until he can talk to her in person. It would be better to see the expression on her face when he did.

The day started off lazily for him. He had slept in and it was about eleven in the morning something he never really did that often. He decided to forego room service and after showering thought that a walk around Sydney to explore was in order. He could see the Sydney Opera House from his suite and decided that since he'd never been to Australia before he would walk to the venue and take a look around. By the time he arrived at the opera house, it was closed. As he turned to walk back to the hotel a security guard came out and asked what he wanted.

"I was just going to take a look around from a distance, soak up some of the culture."

"Well mate, you're in luck. Come with me and I'll show you all the culture you'll ever need to see."

"Sure, that would be great thanks so much."

The security guard took Castle through the entire Opera House and he was telling him about when it was constructed in 1960 and that it was the host of people like Thin Lizzy, Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, and it was the site of the opening ceremony for the 2000 Olympics. Even Michael Buble performed here.

This is amazing! Before he knew it, it was close to two in the afternoon. He spent two and a half hours here and was happy that he did. He bid his farewell to the security guard who had to get back to work when they reached the security office, but he was happy for the tour.

Arriving back in his hotel suite he changed into more comfortable clothes and looked at the room service menu. He ordered a basic steak, baked potato, and vegetables. The hotel staff was quick in preparing his meal and they were up to his room less than a half-hour later. Finished with his meal and decided to call back home to talk to his daughter and mother just to see how they were doing. He had come to find through his mother that Alexis had a study session with her friend Paige and would be out late. His mother had told him that she had been stressing about her next upcoming exam and wanted to get more studying done before she was going to be taking on Tuesday.

His mother was doing fine, but she had another rehearsal for her play coming up and she couldn't talk very long. The call ended and now Rick was left to his own devices. His signing was scheduled for nine a.m. tomorrow morning and he had Gina to thank for the additional late start time. It was the least she could do for him after making him schlep all the way to another continent.

Xx

He was fortunate enough to have the same person Evie he thinks her name drive him to the bookstore where he was going to be signing close to five hundred books. Well, that's what they had on hand he hoped he didn't have to sign that many but one never knew. He called the Sydney limousine company to confirm his pickup for tomorrow morning at 8:30 and requested Evie as his driver. Now all his pre-planning for the signing was finished. He decided that since he was fed, content, and had nothing left to take care of, an early turn in would be just the thing his tired body needed. He had changed into his boxers and his Green Lantern tee shirt and went to sleep.

Xx

She was a mess. Actually, she was more than a mess she should have told him how she felt before he left for this week-long trip to Australia. Bad planning on her part. So instead of making a bad situation worse, she decided to plan a party for him upon his return. She was stuck doing paperwork for the last case they had and it was almost finished. She would give Martha and Alexis a call and see what they could come up with in the form of a welcome home party for him. God, she wanted him something fierce and he'd only been gone for two days. She finished up the last of her witness statements, added them to the file that she was going to send to the district attorney. She picked up her phone and dialed Martha's number from memory.

"Martha Rogers speaking."

"Martha it's me, Kate. Do you have time to talk?"

"Yes, darling I do. What's on your mind?"

"Well, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping me. I want to set up a party at the loft for when Rick returns home from Australia."

"That's a grand idea, Katherine. But you know what I think? I think that we should we should include Alexis in on the planning of this party. She would be enthusiastic to able set something up with all three of us, don't you think?"

"Martha that's a great idea. Is she available to meet with us?"

"I'm sure that she'd make time to be there when it comes to planning a surprise welcome party for her father, she can be very innovative."

"Excellent! I'll be free around five this afternoon. Maybe we can get something to eat and plan out the party while we eat?"

"Excellent idea darling do you know where Le Cirque is?"

"Martha I can't afford to eat anything at Le Cirque. I was thinking more like Remy's."

"Nonsense darling since we're planning Richards welcome home party he should be the one to pay for dinner. This is on us. We will supply the food you supply the ideas and planning.

"Martha I couldn't make you pay for something that I'm planning for Rick!"

"Katherine I'll hear none of that nonsense! I'll make the reservations for six tonight. Just meet us there and we'll talk then."

Kate knew that arguing with Martha will be pointless. So, she reluctantly agreed to meet them at the restaurant.

Xx

His alarm was set early because he wanted to have a good start to the day by having a hearty breakfast down in the restaurant of the hotel. He showered and dressed in a violet button down, (his mind went to Kate knowing that it was her favorite color) a pair of Eddie Bauer black gabardine pants and his black leather jacket. He made his way down to the restaurant, sat down and enjoyed a ham and cheese omelet, fresh cinnamon rolls, coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice. He had asked if they could lend him a thermos with a full complement of coffee to take with him to the signing and he would return the thermos when he was done that afternoon. They agreed and poured him another cup at his table. When he was ready to leave they would grant his request for him and to tell them when he was leaving so they could have it ready for him.

Armed with fresh coffee and adding the breakfast to his room bill, he walked out of the hotel exit. When he hit the sidewalk there, waiting attentively, was Evie.

"Good morning Evie. You are here pretty early this morning."

"G'day Mr. Castle. I took the liberty of arriving a tick or two earlier thinking that you'd want to get an early start."

"Very clever of you."

Evie just smiled back at him and opened the door of the Audi for him to get in.

"Mr. Castle, the bookstore that you are scheduled to be at is in Woollahra on Spicer Street. From what I understand it's an independent bookstore run by a woman named Lesley Mckay. The store is named as such."

"Thanks. It's actually better working with an independent bookshop owner than the big chain stores."

"Right. We'll be there in about ten minutes and then do you want me to wait for you to finish?"

"Evie, I'll be at this signing for the next eight hours. I'm sure that you can find something more constructive to do with your time other than wait for me."

"Sorry, Mr. Castle. Just call me when you are finished and I will come and collect you and bring you back to your hotel."

"Thank you, Evie, but please call me Rick."

"Okay Rick, we're here."

Rick looked at the shop that was still closed. He did see someone moving around inside. He waved off Evie and opened the door himself and got out. When she pulled away from the sidewalk, he turned and went to the front door.

"We're not opened yet, sir." The small blonde woman said through the locked door.

"Hi, I'm Rick Castle. I'm here for the signing today."

"Oh, please forgive me! I didn't recognize you."

"That's okay." Rick felt a little hurt at not being recognized, he was after all a world-famous author or so he thought.

"Let me open the door and we'll get you set up for the signing."

Lesley had met some people that were hard to read in her life. She was getting the same vibe from Mr. Castle. He was guarded and she didn't know why.

"Right this way Mr. Castle. I'll show you to the area where you'll be for the signing."

Lesley relocked the front door and she walked past Rick motioning him to follow. When they arrived at the table he was to be sitting at, he was introduced to Chloe, Willow, Anna, Oliver, and Ethan.

"Hi, all. I promise I will learn all your names but please give me some time." Rick said.

Everyone chuckled at his apparent uneasiness.

"Don't worry Mr. Castle, we don't bite…. much!" Ethan said.

"Ethan, grow up!" Willow scolded.

"Alright, that's more than enough people. Mr. Castle, we have this area set up for you." Lesley said as she offered him the seat at the table. "Behind you are some books that you can sign and there will be customers that will want you to sign something that they hold near and dear. We don't care what they want you to sign, as long as the customer is happy."

"I understand. Are they any limits to what I can sign here?"

"Unlike the States, there will be no signing of women's chests here." She gave him a condescending look "This is a respectable establishment and I'll have none of that nonsense in my shoppe."

"That won't be a problem, Lesley. I have not done that in quite some time."

"Good. So, what do you say to a spot of tea before we start?"

"Great idea…."